Harpoon hay-fork.



F. R. LINDSTROM.

HARPOON HAY FORK. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8, 1915.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

FRANK R. LINDSTROM, OF MILACA, IQINNESOTA.

HARPOON HAY-FQRK.

Application filed February 8, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK R. LINDs'rRoM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milaca, in the county of Millelacs, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harpoon Hay- Forks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to hay forks and more particularly to a harpoon fork of simple and improved construction.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a harpoon fork in which are embodied novel means whereby the barb points thereof may be releasably secured in carrying position and automatically looked upon movement to dumping position under the influence of a load on the fork.

With the above and other objects of similar nature in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a hay fork constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view with the parts in carrying position, and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of the fork with the handles in locked position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the fork comprises the usual frame 10 including a cross head 11 and spaced parallel leg portions 12, resulting in a longitudinal slot 13 and terminating at their free ends in sharpened points 1 1. Bridging the legs 12 adjacent their point of connection with the cross head 11 are spaced transverse bracing members 15, and pivoted at one end between said members are a pair of operating handles 16, the upper ends of which project above and are slidably engaged as at 1.7 with the cross head and adapted for swinging movement relatively thereto.

lVithin the slot 13 adjacent the extremities of the legs 12 barb points 18 are pivoted, which points in one position extend longitudinally of the legs to permit the latter being readily inserted into abody of hay, and in their other position extend at right angles to the legs and thus grasp the load Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Serial No. 6,820.

16 to the cross head 11 so that the barbs 18 will be in alinement with the legs 12, there is mounted on the cross head, a spring plate 22, said plate being secured in position by means of eye bolts 23 and having its ends bent to provide resilient clips 24 adapted to releasably engage the related handle. It is thus evident that the fork may be readily plunged into a body of hay without danger of displacing the barbs 18 and that, when it is desired to operate the latter to grasp the load, the handles are merely disengaged from the clips and swung outwardly on their pivots and the barbs thus operated through the medium of the link and arm connection above described. It will be noted that in this position the upper ends of the arms 20 will be disposed inwardly of the pivot points of the rocker links 19 and any tendency for downward movement of the barbs under the influence of the load will thus be prevented.

There is further provided on the cross head 11 the usual eye 25 for attachment with a hoisting cable by which the fork may be elevated. For releasing the barbs 1.8 when the fork has been elevated and moved to the desired position, the ends 26 of a trip line 26 are slidably engaged through the eye bolts 23 and connected at the upper ends of the handles 16, a slight jerk upon the line serving to carry the arms 20 beyond the pivots of the rocker links and allowing the load to drop, the barbs 18 being thus moved to their positions in alinement with the legs 12 and the handles 16 automatically swung inwardly and locked beneath the clips 24:.

What is claimed is 1. A harpoon fork including a frame, barb points pivoted to the frame, operating handles mounted on the frame, means operatively connecting said handles with the barbs to move and retain the latter in carrying position, trip means connected with said handles, resilient locking means secured to the frame to automatically lock said handles to the latter upon movement of the barbs to dumping position under the influence of a load in the fork.

2. A harpoon fork including a frame, barbs pivoted to the frame, handles mounted on the frame and operatively connected With the barbs to move and retain the latter in carrying position, trip means connected With said handles, and a resilient plate intermediately secured to the frame with its free ends spaced therefrom, whereby to automatieally look the handles to the frame upon movement of said barbs to dumping position.

In testimony whereof, I afiiX my signature, in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

FRANK R. LINDSTROM.

Witnesses G. E. ERroKsoN, JAMES NoRoRoss.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

